Filed by Mitch Sherman at 9:02 a.m.
Get to your seats early tonight. Senior Day festivities begin with 24 minutes on the pregame clock, right about 6:20.
The most anticipated senior introduction, no doubt, involves a certain defensive tackle who has enjoyed his share of memorable moments inside the gray walls of Memorial Stadium. Tonight will no doubt rank as another of those moments for Ndamukong Suh as he embraces coach Bo Pelini before kickoff. The crowd's reaction should be someting to behold.
Interestingly, Suh's campaign for major awards has gained steam in recent days, even after he posted season-low tackle totals in the past two games. Nebraska's new Web site has helped, but the biggest factor in the Suh momentum is tied to a parade of ESPN personalities - Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Mark May and other - who continue to declare Suh as a Heisman frontrunner.
Good or bad, ESPN plays an enormous role in the Heisman race. Ballots (actually, to the dismay of this voter, the Heisman discontinued its distribution of real ballots this year in favor a notification by mail to vote online) were sent this week to the 900-plus voters.
This is the time when most voters begin to seriously consider their choices. I still don't think Suh can win the Heisman. The voting pool is too big, but he can get to New York as a finalist, and ESPN can help get him there.
A dominant performance tonight against Kansas State would loom very large in Suh's candidacy - not just for the Heisman but the Nagurski, Lombardi, Outland and others.
And in contrast to the offensive styles of Oklahoma and Kansas, K-State will operate a gameplan that figures to play right into Suh's hands, so to speak. Remember his showings against Missouri, which had to turn conservative because of the weather, and Virginia Tech? Look for more of the same against the Wildcats.
The game will be televised by ESPN's mother ship. You better believe the announcing crew of Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews will follow Suh's every move, likely starting with the pregame love from Pelini and the NU fans.
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